NSEC (unit 1) and teaching the four skills Dr Dodie Brooks

Skills 1 Reading 2 Listening 3 Speaking 4 Writing

READING SKILLS Reading: Skill 1: skimming  prediction Skill 2: scanning  m/c Skill 3: careful reading  questions Skill 4: analysis  task Using the skills 1 task: solve a problem in groups 2 discussion: groups or class 3 debate: class

Skill 1: skimming Purpose: to predict the content + identify main idea Method: 1 Before reading look at the title + pictures 2 Predict content + skim to check

Skimming  main idea Teaching suggestions 1 Read the passage through quickly sequence (chronology of NZ: M8 U1) sequence  summary (Civil Rights M10 U3) 2 Discuss difficult concepts or ideas analysis (snake experiment M8 U3) analysis  drawing conclusions (women authoresses M10 U5)

Main Idea in SB Questions: 1 What is the main passage about? 2 What five kinds of poems does the reading passage talk about? (M6 U2) Exercises: Make a summary of each part of the passage (M5 U2, M6 U3) Glance quickly at the magazine article and then answer the questions (M6 U4)

Example:

Skimming  genre Is it fiction? (creative and imaginative writing) Is it non-fiction? (factual writing) **cultural information**

UnitFictionNon-fiction M5:1Recount M5:2**Expository writing M5:3Story M5:4Interview M5:5Information writing

2 nd reading: scan Purpose  look for particular information Questions like: What time does the train leave? How tall was the man? True / False questions Charts

3rd reading: careful Purpose: understand new ideas learn new vocabulary find and use grammar

1Understanding ideas 1 literal understanding 2 inferential understanding 3 discussion or extension of issues 2 Learning new vocabulary 1 highlighting of new words 2 developing a “feel” for language 3Understanding and using grammar 1 identify 2 practise 3 apply

1.1 Literal comprehension

1.2 Inferential comprehension

1.3 Discussion of ideas

2.1 Highlighting How highlighting can be used 3 ways: from best to least good best: Ss use context 2nd: Ss identify + use dictionary 3rd: T pre-teach some words

2.1 Using the context 1 Underline any unknown words 2 Read the sentence. Example: Make a list of establations why friends are important. 2Make a guess. 3Check with the dictionary.

2.2 Developing a “feel” 1 Exercises: words that take the place of “said” (M5 U2) 2 Collocations: add a verb to a preposition (M5 U3) 3 Connections between words verbs, adjectives and nouns (M5 U5) prefixes and suffixes (M5 U1 WB) idioms (M5 U4)

Example:

3.1 Find + practise grammar

3.2 Apply grammar

Why are these best? active learning more likely to remember more motivating and empowering

LISTENING SKILLS Predict: the advice * Listening 1 Listening 2: main idea Listening 3: stop tape at 2 or 3 points  identify details Do exercises in SB Listening 4: check answers

SPEAKING SKILLS Speaking: individual, prepared speech, report, no questions **Discussion: group work, interactive, questions and sharing ideas (TASK)

Organisation 2-steps (1) pairs (2) fours most efficient for oral practice learn to negotiate opinions arrive at a consensus

Example:

Teacher’s Role provide context for issue keep students on task act as a resource and encourage ask Ss to report back to the class

Combining listening and discussion (1) for an issue: no right or wrong answer quality of discussion most important M1 U1 What was Miss Wang’s advice? Do you agree with it?

Combining listening and discussion (2) to develop understanding: of motives and intentions of character and personality limitations on actions M1 U1: Why do you think Miss Wang suggested that? What would you suggest?

WRITING SKILLS 1 Class discussion: look at the model or reading passage 2 Work in pairs: brainstorm ideas make a list of ideas put them in a logical order write the first draft

Teaching skills: writing (2) 3 Correct 1 st draft in pairs swap writing with partner correct the writing (content, verbs, punctuation, spelling) swap back + explain reasons for changes write final draft

I’m back in Nanjing now. My hometown of Jiangsu Province. Climbing a high hill you see the resting place of great leader of China. We have the big lake and river but no sea. Its cool here. Thank you for me staying with you.

I’m back in Nanjing now. My hometown of Jiangsu Province. Climbing a high hill you see the resting place of great leader of China. We have the big lake and river but no sea. Its cool here. Thank you for me staying with you.

I have just returned to Nanjing,my hometown in Jiangsu Province. If you climb one of our local hills you will discover the resting place of one of the great Chinese leaders. Nanjing also has a magnificent lake and river but is not near the sea. The weather is cool here now. Thank you for letting me stay with you.

Thank you! Any questions: